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Jan 17 2023 9 Comments

The last remaining stores of a little Japanese shopping arcade

It was once a little hub of local shops, but these days this narrow arcade is more or less just a wooden shell with empty spaces where most of the businesses once stood. Only two of the original stores are still open, and even then, the green tea outlet looks more like a museum piece than a fully functioning operation. The tofu place next door, on the other hand, is very much a going concern, and considering the location, it still has a steady enough supply of customers.

A more modern appendage at one end seems to enjoy the majority of visitors, but presumably when either that or the tofu shop call it a day, then the bulldozers will finally move in. Until then, however, it remains a fascinating glimpse of Japan before supermarkets and convenience stores became common.

The last remaining shops of a little Japanese shopping arcade

The last remaining shops of a little Japanese shopping arcade

The last remaining shops of a little Japanese shopping arcade

Categorized: Food and Drink, Photography

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Günter says

    1/17/2023 at 9:47 am

    I can see these are from a different time but I would very much like to buy some green tea there.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/17/2023 at 8:44 pm

      It’s certainly a special looking shop, so if their tea matches that it’d be very nice indeed.

      Reply
  2. cdilla says

    1/17/2023 at 4:49 pm

    That tea shop! Your photograph almost looks like it has a green cast to it, but the primary reds, blues and yellows are vivid and untinited. Such an array of greens! It can’t be common to see such a wonderful old place so excellently lit like that. Even rarer to have it captured in such clarity as here. A new addition to my favourites of yours.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/17/2023 at 8:48 pm

      Quite the place, isn’t it? And yes, greens galore.

      Cheers. Glad you like it so much. A rarity that one. Shot on the little Ricoh as it was too narrow for the 35mm on the Leica. Never really bonded with that camera, but it does produce decent results when I ask it to.

      Reply
  3. Richard says

    1/18/2023 at 9:43 am

    Those two shops must have a loyal customer base. It is bittersweet to see that they are still in business.

    Thanks for another glimpse into a Tokyo most people don’t know about.

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/18/2023 at 8:11 pm

      I reckon so. The tofu shop certainly had a fair bit for sale. And yeah, definitely that element to it.

      You are very welcome. Finding and also photographing these places is always a genuine pleasure.

      Reply
  4. Denise says

    1/18/2023 at 9:52 am

    I love the tofu guy’s expression! 🙂

    Reply
    • Lee says

      1/18/2023 at 8:12 pm

      Yeah, not at all sure he was as happy to see me as I was to see his shop!

      Reply
  5. Aaron Freedman says

    5/6/2024 at 12:24 am

    Sorry. Where is this? I can only see the comments page. No link back to the initial posting. Thanks.

    Reply

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